Prabowo Promises to Withdraw from BoP if He Does Not Champion Palestinian Independence

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - President Prabowo Subianto has pledged that Indonesia will withdraw from the Board of Peace (BoP) if independence for Palestine is not realised. The pledge was revealed by K.H. Muhammad Cholil Nafis, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), after the president’s gathering with clerics and leaders of Islamic organisations at the State Palace on Thursday evening, 5 March 2026.

‘He is determined to achieve Palestinian independence. If it is not for Palestine, he is prepared to step down,’ Cholil told reporters.

Cholil said Prabowo expressed the commitment to Palestinian independence during the meeting. He is even prepared to resign from BoP if the direction of Indonesia’s struggle no longer aligns with the organisation formed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

‘Yes, the president’s promise. ’If I am not useful at BoP, I will resign’,’ Cholil paraphrased Prabowo’s words.

Furthermore, according to Cholil, the US-Israel attack on Iran is not related to BoP, nor to Palestinian independence.

‘Saya tidak melihat mengaitkan pembicaraan antara penyerangan dengan BoP, karena BoP itu spesifik untuk Palestina,’ he said.

Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (ICMI) Jimly Asshidiqie also said in the meeting the president expressed commitment to leave BoP if the direction of this association deviates from the goal of Palestinian independence.

Jimly explained that the reason Prabowo joined the forum was because in point 18 of the agreement it mentions the establishment of a sovereign Palestine. In addition, point 19 states that Trump will bridge peace between Palestine and Israel.

‘So there is that point which makes the president confident to participate,’ Jimly said.

However, he said this requires a process, especially to promote the two-state solution to be accepted by both parties.

‘The point is self-determination; thus Palestinian statehood is ensured. So the two-state solution is the solution. And because of that the president signed,’ he said.